There’s a dire need for Beaumont Hospital to overhaul its information system by the close of 2025 due to an “escalating operational hazard”, as informed to the Dáil’s finance oversight group. Seamus McCarthy, the Auditor General, mentioned to the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that the project at the hospital located in north Dublin has experienced delays, with approximately two years left for its conclusion. He emphasised the immediate need for its completion.
Mr McCarthy further underscored the payment excesses in the hospital’s payroll by €288,513 in 2022, a result of payroll control transgressions. By the termination of that year, the outstanding overpayments added up to €640,071. The hospital had carried out significant procurement activities that failed to adhere to public expenditure rules, equivalent to about €26.4 million in 2022.
Though a transparent audit assessment was given by the C&AG relating to the hospital board’s 2022 financial document, Mr McCarthy pointed out these three discrepancies. He noted that the internal control document has an in-depth revelation about the impending inability of the information system at Beaumont Hospital to operate past December 31st, 2025, indicating the essential need for its swapping with a functional system.
Mr McCarthy, discussing the project’s delay, emphasised that the timelines for its substitution have become a considerable risk to the hospital’s smooth function.
Catherine Murphy from the Social Democrats probed the probable hazard this could exert on patient interaction. Mr McCarthy responded, stating the situation as presenting a severe operational risk, which was indicated in the document on internal control. He noted an increase of the recruitment advancement within the hospital and the added project management.
A proposal by Ms Murphy to incorporate the PAC’s concern about the risk to the hospital’s functionality and potential influence on patients in a letter was unanimously accepted by the committee. In responding to an inquiry from the Fianna Fáil TD Paul McAuliffe regarding overpayments in the payroll, Mr. McCarthy stated these were noted due to significant control lapses, with overpayments continuing for an extended period.
Overpayments can occasionally occur for brief durations when there’s a lack of communication between human resources and payroll systems, resulting in people being paid unnecessarily, even after they’ve ceased employment. However, in this instance, the overpayments continued over an extended period, which is why they’ve garnered concern.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman, Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley said the committee should inquire of the hospital the exact number of individuals affected, staff grades involved, and the timeframe over which the overpayment issue transpired. A consensus was also reached about looking into the amount that has been reclaimed.
Later, Mr McCarthy noted that between 2019 and 2021, a few substantial overpayments took place, which he has highlighted in the past. He expressed that the significant increase in overpayment amounts in 2022 was worrying. According to Mr McCarthy’s records, around 135 overpayments were made in 2022, totalling approximately €288,000, or about €2,300 per case.
In terms of non-compliant procurement, Mr McCarthy suggested that the levels were comparable to those seen within the HSE, but still higher than some other hospitals. Mr Stanley recommended that Beaumont Hospital should also be asked regarding this, noting that the unique nature of hospitals means there will inevitably be considerable amounts of goods not being procured through the usual channels.
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